Missouri Eyes Nuclear for Data Center Growth, But Doubts Linger on Their Arrival

Missouri is getting serious about nuclear power. On July 17, 2025, Missouri held a major Nuclear Energy Summit in the city of Columbia. Officials say it’s part of a bigger plan to prepare for a wave of new AI-powered data centers. These facilities need massive amounts of electricity, and nuclear is being pushed as the best way to supply it.

We’ve seen big tech companies talk about building data centers in the Midwest before. Some have even scouted land in Missouri. But here’s the catch: ‘None of these companies have made official moves yet’. That’s why some experts are asking: Is Missouri building the power before it even knows who needs it?

Nuclear energy does have some strong points. It’s stable, carbon-free, and runs day and night, perfect for tech that can’t afford a second of downtime. But building or expanding nuclear plants takes time, money, and public trust. And not everyone is convinced the demand will show up.

We study why Missouri is turning to nuclear energy and why many believe the plan comes with serious risks and unanswered questions.

Rising Demand Meets Missouri’s Power Grid

National trends show major energy use spikes. A Reuters story, citing 13 U.S. utilities, notes that power grid requests from data centers often go past peak capacity. Power companies are boosting their spending on infrastructure to meet growing demand. In our region, Evergy projects 2–3% energy demand growth out to 2028, thanks to new data center deals with giants like Google and Meta

Missouri’s mix of power sources includes:

• 57.2% coal
• 15.5% nuclear (Callaway Plant)
• 15.1% natural gas
• 10% wind
• Plus solar, hydro, biomass

Callaway is the state’s only nuclear plant. It’s been run by Ameren since 1984 and supplies around 15% of Missouri’s electricity.

The Nuclear Summit: Goals and Stakes

At the Missouri Nuclear Summit, energy specialists, government officials, regulators, and community members all gathered. It aimed to explore new nuclear options to boost the power supply, while also cutting emissions. Governor Mike Kehoe stated that Missouri needs to get ready for higher energy demand while also moving toward cleaner power sources.

Speakers included DOE staff, energy regulators, utility leaders, environmental groups, and university researchers. Having the summit shows how serious Missouri is about thinking big. But it didn’t include any data center firm announcing firm plans.

Why Push for Nuclear?

Constant Power Supply

Nuclear plants run 24/7 and rarely stop. U.S. reactors had a capacity factor over 92% in 2024, much higher than gas, wind, or solar. For data centers, that reliability is golden.

Clean Energy

Nuclear power produces almost no greenhouse gas during operation. That aligns with goals to reduce emissions. Missouri’s shift from coal and natural gas will help that push.

Regional Growth

Missouri lies in the center of the country. It has room, good grid links, and lower costs than coastal regions. Some tech firms have scouted land in places like St. Charles and Kansas City.

The Flip Side: Doubts and Risks

No Binding Deals Yet

Even though Missouri is lobbying hard, no tech firm has signed a deal here. That leaves open the question: Are we building power for a promise that might not show?

Higher Rates for Residents

Without formal commitments, utilities may raise rates to cover nuclear expansion. Critics worry residents will carry the cost if data centers pull out.

Example from Other States

Nuclear projects elsewhere have often been late and over budget, like Georgia’s Vogtle expansion. Missouri could face similar issues.

Environmental and Grid Concerns

Data centers use lots of water for cooling. Some local groups worry about strain on regional water and power systems. They also want more transparency about plans.

How Other Places Are Playing It

• Some states let data centers negotiate Power Purchase Agreements directly with nuclear plants. This spreads risk 
• Growing interest in small modular reactors (SMRs), smaller, faster, less complex nuclear systems. Missouri hasn’t announced any SMR plans yet.
• Utilities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana are changing laws to cover building costs before plants come online. Missouri recently removed certain rules about recovering costs in advance, which led to criticism from consumer rights groups.

What’s Coming Next?

Policy Moves

• Lawmakers are weighing legislation to fund nuclear projects through ratepayer payments.
• Regulators will decide whether to open the door to cost recovery for utilities.

Data Center Deals

• Utilities like Ameren and Evergy are negotiating power deals with big tech firms.
• Google, Meta, and Panasonic want 750 MW of power in Missouri/Kansas over the next few years.

Public Involvement

• Residents will weigh in more, especially on water use and environmental risks.
• The Nuclear Summit included forums for community feedback.

Bottom Line

Missouri is taking bold steps. It hosted a summit, talked of nuclear expansion, and drew attention to its potential as a data center hub. The state has real assets: steady nuclear power, central location, and growing interest from utilities and tech firms.

But many questions remain unanswered. There are no signed data center deals yet. There is a real risk that Missouri ratepayers could pay for plants that may not be fully used. Environmental groups want stronger oversight on water and infrastructure costs.

The coming months will be critical. We’ll need to watch closely how far Missouri’s ambition leads it, and whether smart energy plans can turn talk into results.

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This content is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Always conduct your research.